New season promises a new companion, Daleks and the Bard

The Doctor is in on American television.

Sci Fi Channel and BBC Worldwide Americas has acquired the third season of the popular time travel series "Doctor Who" for premiere on Sci Fi in July.

Season Three stars David Tennant as the tenth actor to play the titular timelord and introduces Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones, his new companion who replaces last season's Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). The Doctor's new adventures kick off with the "Doctor Who Christmas Special: The Runaway Bride," guest-starring award-winning comedy actress Catherine Tate.

"'Doctor Who' has become a favorite among Sci Fi audiences," says Chris Regina, the channel's Vice President of Programming. "We are happy to bring the show back for its third season and look forward to following the Doctor's continuing adventures with his newest companion."

The series' executive producer and lead writer Russell T. Davies adds, "We were delighted and honored by the second series' success, and we can promise new thrills, new laughs and some terrifying new aliens. The Doctor and Martha are destined to meet William Shakespeare, blood-sucking alien Plasmavores, The Judoon -- a clan of galactic stormtroopers -- and a sinister Dalek plot in 1930s New York."

"Doctor Who" is the longest-running science fiction TV series to date and was revived recently starring Christopher Eccleston ("Heroes") as the ninth incarnation of the Doctor. Tennant replaced him last season, which aired on Sci Fi to solid viewership.